Black Eyed Susan Picks 2025 – See Which Fillies Experts Handicappers Fancy
Bettors seeking Black Eyed Susan picks need look no further. This Grade II American thoroughbred horse race is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and acts as a precursor to the Preakness Stakes. Read on to discover everything that you need to know about the Black Eyed Susan Stakes.
What is the Black Eyed Susan Stakes?
To give it its full race title, the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is considered the Middle Jewel in the Fillies’ Triple Tiara. This mirrors the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing of Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes held at the same racetrack at the Black Eyed Susan, and Belmont Stakes.
The other legs of the Triple Tiara are the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs and Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, although this year the latter will be run at Saratoga while its home track gets renovated. Although only holding Grade II status, the Black Eyed Susan over nine furlongs on dirt is becoming more and more prestigious with every passing year.
Held the day before but very much a key part of the Preakness Stakes schedule, this is a race on the up. Only three-year-old fillies can take part.
Who are the Favorites for the Black Eyed Susan Horse Race?
With the entries and runners in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes released, betting on the event soon follows. A total of nine fillies are in this year’s field with more on the main contenders below:
- Liam In The Dust – 118lbs (6-1)
- Princess Aliyah – 122lbs (15-1)
- Margie’s Intention – 118lbs (3-1)
- Runnin N Gunnin – 122lbs (5-2 fav)
- Kinzie Queen – 122lbs (10-1)
- Paris Lily – 120lbs (8-1)
- Reply – 118lbs (8-1)
- Amarth – 120lbs (4-1)
- Moon Cache – 118lbs (20-1)
Runnin N Gunnin
Made the show at this level in the Fantasy Stakes around Oaklawn Park latest after landing the Sunland Park Oaks. No match for front two, winner didn’t fire subsequently in the Kentucky Oaks. Achieved more than most in the Black Eyed Susan line-up, though.
Margie’s Intention
Placed twice behind Blue Fire at the New Orleans Fair Grounds including in the Crescent City Oaks latest. Now steps up in grade for Brad Cox barn that won this in 2022. Interesting contender receiving weight from the Morning Line favorite and other favored runner.
Amarth
Only fifth in Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland latest, but prior form saw her placed behind Kentucky Oaks second and beat the third. This is easier than her last outing and running over a longer distance could bring further improvement. Receives weight from Runnin N Gunnin and gives it to Margie’s Intention.
Black Eyed Susan Expert Picks from our Handicappers
Check below where reveal our Black Eyed Susan picks for the 2024 edition of the race. Read on to find out who we favor to win the race, finish in the top three and thus place or show, and the longshots that our expert handicappers think have a chance.
Black Eyed Susan Picks to Win
The most common bet that is placed on the Black Eyed Susan Stakes is for a particular runner to win. You are simply tasked with predicting which horse will reach the finish line first.
Taxed was the winner in 2023 and was a relative outsider, priced at 15/1 on the morning line odds. The third-favorite Interstatedaydream won at 6/1 in 2022, while the 2021 winner was Army Wife at 8/1.
As you can see from these recent results, it has been possible to pick a winner at relatively big odds. Here are the main picks for the Black Eyed Susan Stakes from our handicappers:
Amarth
Based on Morning Line odds, Amarth looks the best value bet to win. Her head victory over Bless The Broken as a juvenile and second to Drexel Hill prior to her Ashland Stakes fifth both read well, as those two made the show in the Kentucky Oaks.
Top 3 Finish Black Eyed Susan Horse Picks
If you’re looking for an easier type of bet than predicting the winner on Black Eyed Susan and Preakness Stakes betting sites, then it makes sense to go with either a place or show. If you go for a place, then your bet is for the horse finishing in the top two positions in the race. With a show, meanwhile, it’s a top three finish that you’re looking for.
The payouts are obviously smaller than with a win bet, but should the Black Eyed Susan victor come in at big odds, than they can still be sizeable. An option that many bettors like to go for is an Across the Board wager, which is where you have bets on a selection to win, place and show, at three times the unit stake.
These are our picks for place and show finishes in the Black Eyed Susan this year:
Place Bet – Runnin N Gunnin
After making the show in the Fantasy Stakes, another Grade II race for fillies of her own age, Runnin N Gunnin should go well again. Although she couldn’t get close to the front two at Oaklawn Park, the Black Eyed Susan looks an easier race for the same level and she should beat Kinzie Queen again. Runnin N Gunnin could be one to bet Across the Board too.
Show Bet – Margie’s Intention
Outside of those fillies with graded form, Margie’s Intention looks best of the rest. Brad Cox often aims one of the better females in his barn at this race. Her Fair Grounds conqueror has since finished second in the Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs, so that boosts the form.
Longshots for the Black Eyed Susan
As we mentioned earlier, the 2023 Black Eyed Susan Stakes winner was a relative outsider, available at morning line odds of 15/1.
This was by no means a one-off. Miss Marissa was a 12/1 winner in 2020, Actress was the same price in 2017 and Keen Pauline was a 15/1 shot in 2015. This is the longshot we like most for the Black Eyes Susan Stakes of 2024:
Reply
Laurel Park second Reply could build on her place in the Weber City Miss Stakes at Baltimore’s other main racetrack. Already twice a winner over a mile, she should stay the extra furlong as she’s by Preakness Stakes winner Curlin. On that basis, she might be able to get in amongst the fillies with graded form.
Exotic Black Eyed Susan Stakes Picks
Exotic bets are always a popular choice. In this section we’re going to detail our Black Eyed Susan picks for those looking to place the most exotic wagers of an exacta and trifecta.
Exacta Picks
With an exacta, you have to select the horses that will finish first and second in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes, in the correct order. Another option is the quinella, which allows your two picks to finish in any order.
With this being a difficult bet to pull off, the payouts can be large, especially if one or more unfancied runners finish in the top two. In 2023, Taxed won ahead of Hoosier Philly, which generated an exacta payout of $94.80, based on a $1 bet. These are our exacta picks for this year’s race:
Quinella Bet – 8 & 4
Our expert handicappers favor Amarth (8) and Runnin N Gunnin (4) to fight out the finish at the wire. These fillies have proven to some extent that they can hang in graded races. Their form also looks the best on offer in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes of 2025.
Trifecta Picks
A trifecta tasks you with predicting the horses that will finish first, second and third, in the correct order. There is also the option of a boxed trifecta, which covers all six permutations of finish from your three selections.
This is clearly more difficult still and in 2023, a successful trifecta bet paid $270.70, based on a $1 stake. These are our trifecta picks for the Black Eyed Susan Stakes.
Trifecta Bet – 8, 4 & 3
Joining Amarth (8) and Runnin N Gunnin (4) in the trifecta bet this year is Brad Cox’s Margie’s Intention (3). All three fillies either have or tie in with graded form. This has greater substance to it for handicappers than one of those with minor wins under their belts.
What Trends & Stats Go in to Our Black Eyed Susan Picks?
When making our picks for the Black Eyed Susan there were all sorts of factors that we considered. Here are some of the more important ones.
Jockeys & Trainers
Does the jockey or trainer have a strong record in the Black Eyes Susan Stakes? John Velazquez has ridden the winner a joint-record four times, while Javier Castellano delivered in the saddle in 2014, 2015 and 2019. Amongst trainers, Dale Romans enjoyed wins in 2015 and 2016, while Todd Pletcher has had four victories since 2005.
Post Positions
Post position can be an important factor when picking a winner for the Black Eyed Susan Stakes. The horses that are closer to the inside rail have less of a distance to run than those on the outside. That is not to say that the horses drawn wide don’t have a chance. The ones on the fence can get boxed in and there have been winners from wider post positions in recent years.
Prep Races & Trials
There are a series of prep races and trials for fillies ahead of the Black Eyed Susan, which can serve as good indicators. The most obvious example is the Kentucky Oaks, a Grade I race held two weeks before the action at Pimlico.
Speed Figures
Pimlico is a track that rewards fast horses. You won’t get a dawdling pace here. As such, speed figures – which demonstrate the top speed that horses have hit in previous races – can be a valuable resource.
Past performances at Pimlico are definitely worth taking into account as well if the fillies have raced there before. Hot pace figures suggest you could have picked the winner in this race for decent fillies.
How Our Handicappers Make Their Black Eyed Susan Race Picks
Making picks for any horse race requires our handicappers to consider several factors. There is not one indicator that pinpoints a winner, but a marriage of a number of them can point your and our pros in the right directions. Here are some of the things that our handicappers think about:
Class Tells
The pedigree of a horse can be an indicator of success. If the mother (dam) and father (sire) were successful during their racing days and/or have produced other winning horses, then that is certainly something to consider.
Yet it is not more important than the previous results of the horse in question, especially in high-class fields. The records of the trainers and jockeys involved is another aspect that must be thought about.
Analysis of Field
Picking a winner can be made easier by eliminating the horses that you consider to not stand a chance. If a horse doesn’t have at least one of the factors discussed above going for it, then it will be a risk to back it.
Handicappers will also take Black Eyed Susa and Preakness Stakes odds into account. A horse they may fancy to do well, will not necessarily be their pick if they consider the price to be too short. The opposite is true, with handicappers taking a chance on an outsider, if they think that the odds provide value.
External Factors
Just looking at the qualities of the horses involved in the Black Eyed Susan Stakes, is not enough. There are all sorts of external factors that must also be assessed. The weather and the resulting track condition, can radically change the thinking of handicappers. Potential injuries and post positions, are other factors that can result in some last-minute thinking.
FAQs
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